Manchester United and Real Madrid’s bitter ongoing feud has been reignited over the use of facilities for their pre-season tours of the US.
The Sun and Daily Mirror have both reported that the European giants are at loggerheads over which club should be entitled to use the best training facilities on offer in Los Angeles ahead of the International Champions Cup pre-season tournament.
The row became so heated at one point that ICC officials had to wade in to calm tempers, while a source from the organisers claimed that the situation had become something of a “nightmare” to deal with.
Manchester United and Real Madrid involved in a row over training facilities and hotels in LA. #MUFC #MUTour #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/hFgCiMuKoA
— Naveen Ullal (@UllalIBT) July 13, 2017
Real have been left unimpressed after United managed to snag the impressive Drake Stadium pitch after the latter arrived stateside two days before their Spanish counterparts did.
That early arrival also afforded Jose Mourinho’s stars the opportunity to check in to the five-star rated Montage Hotel and famous Beverly Wilshere Hotel right around the corner from the UCLA training pitches that they are using for pre-season preparations.
Los Blancos, meanwhile, have had to make do with the Beverly Hills hotel a few miles away from the camp they are using to prepare for the 2017/18 campaign.
Arguments first emerged after Real landed in the US as they questioned why United had been given all of the best facilities on offer and, with the two first-team squads now training a few yards away from each other, the row has escalated as the week has gone on.
My understanding is Madrid won out in this "battle" over facilities, definitely using same hotel as back in 2011: https://t.co/Z7grG4MvB2
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) July 13, 2017
Both sides may be forced to hold off on training schedules on Thursday, however, after the UCLA training base was evacuated on Wednesday evening over fears of a bomb scare, although a UCLA spokesperson told the Daily Mirror that it was merely a “precautionary” measure.
Bad blood already exists between the pair thanks to Real’s protracted pursuit of Red Devils goalkeeper David De Gea, with the Spain international’s 2015 move to the Bernabeu collapsing at the final hurdle.
Both clubs blamed each other for failing to get the deal over the line, while legendary United boss Sir Alex Fergson famously told reporters that he “wouldn’t sell Real a virus” as the La Liga champions wrested Cristiano Ronaldo away from Old Trafford in the summer of 2009.
Real and United’s complicated transfer dealings have continued this summer with Alvaro Morata seeing a switch to the Premier League fall apart after the Europa League winners decided against paying Real’s reported £78m asking price, and instead brought in Romelu Lukaku for an initial £75m.
United and Real will face off against one another on 23rd July as part of the ICC in Santa Clara’s Levis Stadium, before playing each other again on 8th August in the UEFA Super Cup.
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